Community Corner

Peterson is North End Action Team's New Executive Director

The city's non-profit that mobilizes residents of Middletown's low-income neighborhood for community improvement also named Steven Kovach as board president.

Bobbye Knoll Peterson, former board member and community organizer, has been elected executive director of the North End Action Team.

"I'm really excited," says the North End mother and homeowner who has served as interim executive director since Izzi Greenberg stepped down in early May. "I'm thankful that the board had faith in me." 

Peterson first joined the non-profit that mobilizes residents of Middletown's low-income neighborhood for community improvement in 2008. Her experience includes community and youth organizing, program coordination, fundraising and management experience as former director of after-school programs at Oddfellows Youth Playhouse and interim after-school coordinator at the Green Street Arts Center.  

This spring, Peterson led a two‐day production of “Vagina Monologues” and acted herself, which raised $2,500 in proceeds for the New Horizons Women's Shelter, a program of the Community Health Center in Middletown. 

Peterson says she's especially focused on community policing and Middletown schools — and has some big shoes to fill. "Izzi was amazing," Peterson says. "She was able to keep so many balls in the air. I'm going to keep that momentum going and keep working to keep the neighborhood stay empowered."

The fifth annual North End Farmers Market opens on June 14. New this year, Peterson says, are seedlings for purchase, which will allow families — even those who receive SNAP benefits — to grow their own produce at home. 

In April, NEAT announced a $30,000 state agriculture grant allows the city's downtown summer farmers market to encourage and educate residents how to grow their own produce. The market runs weekly on Fridays from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. through Oct. 25 and features music and local vendors selling farm-fresh goods.

NEAT also elected a new president at its last meeting. North End resident and former youth board representative Steven Kovach has worked with NEAT for more than a decade. He started out as a youth member of the hiking and DaVinci clubs, then served as a youth representative the board, and then as a full board member. 

A Middlesex Community College graduate with honors, Kovach serves on the city’s Design and Review Board, and just graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in history from Wesleyan University. 

Greenberg is replacing longtime executive director of the Middlesex County Coalition’s for Children Betsy Morgan, who retires at the end of June. Greenberg began as a community organizer in 2001, and was its executive director since 2007.


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